BEFORE saying that “flexible learning” would be the “new normal” for higher education institutions next school year, had the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) thoroughly assessed the situation of students and teachers in tertiary schools under blended distance learning?
What is the plan of CHED to support teachers and students struggling in blended distance learning? Many have called for academic ease due to the mental, physical and financial strain that the flexible distance learning required from the students and teachers.
Saying that “there’s no going back” to face-to-face learning is a very dangerous statement and threatens access to quality higher education for many Filipinos. How many students had to stop their studies due to lack of access to their online classes or modules? This and more questions CHED has yet to answer.
The possibility of face-to-face classes should not be ruled out outright. CHED should, among others, identify the zero and low-risk areas for COVID-19 where students can safely attend face-to-face classes. It should also take steps to speed up the rollout of anti-COVID vaccines in tertiary education teachers and staff.
And this is why assessment is so important to know the situation of teachers and students in the past year. This will guide CHED how to move forward in the coming years without sacrificing young people’s access to education and the safety of schools’ faculty and staff.
The truth is that face-to-face classes still provide better quality education for students. Unless CHED follows recommendations for safe and effective back-to-school, our youth will continue to be denied their right to quality and accessible education.
Saying that technologies invested for flexible learning would be wasted should not be a reason for not preparing for the return to face-to-face classes. New technologies and competencies should aid learning and not hinder students and teachers from safely returning to school.
In recent years calls have been persistent for higher budgetary support for state universities and colleges (SUCs) and other higher education institutions to address the perennial problems of shortages and class size, yet the government keeps on slashing the budget of SUCs. Now more than ever, the government should prioritize education and support teachers and students for their safe return to school.
